“Folks from the backwoods were certain about two things: that every human soul needed to be free and that the responsibility of being free required one to be a person of integrity, a person who lived in such a way that there would always be a congruency between what one thinks, says, and does.”
I'm not sure I still believe that most Americans care about doing right by others and aren't like the worst of those who represent them in state and national offices. I could cling to that belief after 2016, when Trump won only a minority of the popular vote. But not now. The authoritarianism, the cruelty, and the attacks on entire classes of people were on the ballot in 2024, and a majority of voters endorsed all of it. They may try to claim they didn't, but the day will come when they have to confront what they voted for, and they will have as little credibility as the Germans who tried to claim they were unaware that Jews were being mass-murdered in their name.
It seems to me that people have a much greater capacity for rationalization than for empathy. My experience with Trumpism bears that out. I see my neighbors rationalizing why they voted for Trump (my cost of bread is too high, or my retirement savings are all invested in the stock market, so I had no choice) instead of confronting what he promises to do. I see them rationalizing votes for TN Republicans (Democrats are too liberal and "elitist")so they don't have to hold themselves accountable for supporting people who want to cut off school lunches for poor kids.
My father always insisted, "You are what you tolerate." I've seen what these people tolerate. On the other hand, my father also said, "Give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove they don't deserve it." With these people, I keep seeing more proof. So I am finding less and less reason to think that the basic goodness of most Americans is anything but delusion.
Touché and Here, Here, David! Speaking the truth feels SO VERY GOOD! Let's all just do that from now on. We certainly have to explore and get to know ourselves well in order for us to act in authentic ways though... a hard journey for many of us.
One more small point: There are only two kinds of people….conscious and unconscious…..but neither is evil. Unconscious people are just more insane than conscious people, but we are all eternal spirits, learning to be human on planet earth, some are in 3rd grade and others are in 8th grade, but we can learn, but mostly we learn from making mistakes. Mistakes call for re-takes:).
David: Awesome points! There is another point to always keep in the back of our minds. There Universe is slowly maturing, developing, being refined….and that includes the human race. Some arrive at maturity before others, but the hand will not go far ahead of the foot. The Holy Spirit is doing the work mostly, and we het to help a bit, but we are the work the Holy Spirit is refining, perfecting, maturing. We will get there. IF we help, that is good. If we don’t help much, we will still get there……that is the Omega Point. “I will send the Holy Spirit, and He will lead you into all truth.” Someone of significance said that:).
There’s the sense in which we are not at all “loving our children” if we coddle or cover for them when they’ve become a threat to themselves and others. . . I don’t know which is more difficult. . . 🙏🏼
Thank you! Yes, my governor and both my U.S. Senators and much of my state legislature are ALL IN for recreational cruelty in the strong name of Jesus, but....that's not most people or even most Tennesseans.
Speak of the devil, I saw gubner heat’n’air today at the pool. I never say hello for fear I’ll say more than hello and get to know his security detail in ways I’d rather not.
I'm not sure I still believe that most Americans care about doing right by others and aren't like the worst of those who represent them in state and national offices. I could cling to that belief after 2016, when Trump won only a minority of the popular vote. But not now. The authoritarianism, the cruelty, and the attacks on entire classes of people were on the ballot in 2024, and a majority of voters endorsed all of it. They may try to claim they didn't, but the day will come when they have to confront what they voted for, and they will have as little credibility as the Germans who tried to claim they were unaware that Jews were being mass-murdered in their name.
It seems to me that people have a much greater capacity for rationalization than for empathy. My experience with Trumpism bears that out. I see my neighbors rationalizing why they voted for Trump (my cost of bread is too high, or my retirement savings are all invested in the stock market, so I had no choice) instead of confronting what he promises to do. I see them rationalizing votes for TN Republicans (Democrats are too liberal and "elitist")so they don't have to hold themselves accountable for supporting people who want to cut off school lunches for poor kids.
My father always insisted, "You are what you tolerate." I've seen what these people tolerate. On the other hand, my father also said, "Give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove they don't deserve it." With these people, I keep seeing more proof. So I am finding less and less reason to think that the basic goodness of most Americans is anything but delusion.
Touché and Here, Here, David! Speaking the truth feels SO VERY GOOD! Let's all just do that from now on. We certainly have to explore and get to know ourselves well in order for us to act in authentic ways though... a hard journey for many of us.
Yes.
One more small point: There are only two kinds of people….conscious and unconscious…..but neither is evil. Unconscious people are just more insane than conscious people, but we are all eternal spirits, learning to be human on planet earth, some are in 3rd grade and others are in 8th grade, but we can learn, but mostly we learn from making mistakes. Mistakes call for re-takes:).
David: Awesome points! There is another point to always keep in the back of our minds. There Universe is slowly maturing, developing, being refined….and that includes the human race. Some arrive at maturity before others, but the hand will not go far ahead of the foot. The Holy Spirit is doing the work mostly, and we het to help a bit, but we are the work the Holy Spirit is refining, perfecting, maturing. We will get there. IF we help, that is good. If we don’t help much, we will still get there……that is the Omega Point. “I will send the Holy Spirit, and He will lead you into all truth.” Someone of significance said that:).
Yes. And it should also be said that:
There’s the sense in which we are not at all “loving our children” if we coddle or cover for them when they’ve become a threat to themselves and others. . . I don’t know which is more difficult. . . 🙏🏼
I needed this one today. Thank you sir. 🙏
Thank you! Yes, my governor and both my U.S. Senators and much of my state legislature are ALL IN for recreational cruelty in the strong name of Jesus, but....that's not most people or even most Tennesseans.
Speak of the devil, I saw gubner heat’n’air today at the pool. I never say hello for fear I’ll say more than hello and get to know his security detail in ways I’d rather not.
Not coddling and staying safe can send one into a whiplash.
About what?